Updated 4 March 1:44 pm – Many real estate agencies have been affected by the current extreme weather event affecting Queensland and New South Wales. If you are unable to reach the First National Real Estate agency that you rent from, please contact First National Real Estate’s head office on 1800 032 332 for assistance.

Currently flooded/disrupted First National offices:

  • First National Real Estate Wal Murray & Co – Lismore (NSW)
  • First National Real Estate Murwillumbah (NSW)
  • First National Real Estate Pottsville Beach
  • First National Real Estate Casino
  • First National Real Estate Evans Head

Other offices may also be affected by staff shortages, internet outages or telephony disruptions. We ask for your patience while we make every effort to restore our services.

This is a summary of key support available to real estate agencies and their customers and communities affected by flooding events in Queensland and New South Wales. This document will be updated as further information comes to hand.

Live Traffic

Please do not attempt to cross flooded creeks or bridges. The NSW Live Traffic website has the latest information on danger zones.

Financial Support

Disaster Recovery Payment – Queenslanders in eligible Local Government Areas (LGAs) can apply for Services Australia’s Disaster Assistance from 1 pm Queensland time Monday 28 February 2022 with further flood-affected local government areas in QLD and NSW expected to be added in the coming hours/days.

This can be accessed:

  • Online: Have you been affected by the Queensland floods starting February 2022? (servicesaustralia.gov.au)
  • Phone: 180 22 66
    The Disaster Recovery Payment provides $1,000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child.The Disaster Recovery Payment is a one-off, non-means-tested payment for those who have suffered a significant loss, including a severely damaged or destroyed home or serious injury.

    • Current LGAs:
      Queensland residents in Gympie, North Burnett, Brisbane, Fraser Coast, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, Noosa, Redland, Scenic Rim, Somerset, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba local government areas. Financial support has also been activated for Northern New South Wales local government areas of Ballina, Bellingen, Byron, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed.
    • Future LGAs: Check if your LGA has been added here

Disaster Recovery Allowance
The Disaster Recovery Allowance is currently available in affected local government areas with further flood-affected local government areas in QLD and NSW expected to be added in the coming hours/days.

State Support

Queensland

Disaster assistance has been extended to Councils in the Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Redland, Scenic Rim, Somerset, South Burnett and Southern Downs local government areas as torrential rainfall and flooding continues to wreak havoc across South East Queensland.

Information on disaster assistance can be found on the QRA’s website: www.qra.qld.gov.au

Personal Hardship Financial Assistance has also been activated for affected areas. Find out more on the QLD Government website: https://www.qld.gov.au/community/disasters-emergencies/disasters

New South Wales

Financial support has been announced by the NSW State Government for Northern New South Wales local government areas of Ballina, Bellingen, Byron, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed.

Residents affected by recent severe weather and storms may be eligible for a disaster relief grant. For a list of local government areas where disaster declarations have been made, visit Natural disaster declarations.

Call 13 77 88 and ask about the disaster relief grant administered by Resilience NSW.
NCOSS has already prepared a complete range of resources for fast access to information on:

Rabobank

Rabobank has announced a range of support measures that will be offered to its farming clients adversely impacted by floods and extreme rainfall in Queensland’s south east and New South Wales’ Northern Rivers region.

Rabobank will work directly with individual clients whose farms or agribusinesses had been affected to provide support and offer a range of assistance measures in applicable circumstances, including:

  • Deferral of scheduled loan payments,
  • Waiver of break costs on early redemption of farm management deposits,
  • Waiver of fees on loan increases necessary for rebuilding operations and
  • Waiver of fees for equipment finance contract variations.Any farming clients who had been adversely impacted by the floods and had not yet spoken to the bank should contact their local branch or phone Rabobank on 1800 025 484.

This information has been prepared by First National Real Estate and the Real Estate Institute of Australia